JANUARY 5, 1998

Tuero signs for Minardi

THE Minardi team has signed up Argentine teenager Esteban Tuero for the coming season. Tuero is expected to be partnered by Brazilian Tarso Marques. Tuero is believed to be bringing considerable finance as part of the deal. Tuero is still only 19 but has been racing since 1985.

In 1993 he competed in Argentina's Formula Renault series and took part in some Formula 3 races the following year. He then moved to Italy and raced in the Italian F3 series in 1995. At the end of the year he was named Minardi test driver for 1996. He continued to race in F3 but quit Enzo Coloni Racing in the mid season because of a lack of results and moved up to Formula 3000. In 1997 he raced in Formula Nippon in Japan.

Although associated with Minardi since the end of 1995 he did not test for the team until September last year when he ran at Mugello. A further test followed in Barcelona.